Early June 2010
The following reviews, interviews and features are running on FaithfulReader.com for the month of May.
Faithful Fiction
BROKEN by Travis Thrasher (Suspense)
Laila Torres steps away from the man she just shot, wipes the blood off her hands, and walks away in hopes of starting a new life --- one without violence, abuse, and men wanting only her body and never her heart. The love, family and faith that filled her childhood are long gone. She saw to that with the choices she made, each one worse than the last, ending with this bloody nightmare. But Laila doesn’t know that the nightmare is just beginning. Reviewed by Susan Miura.
SIXTEEN BRIDES by Stephanie Grace Whitson (Fiction)
In 1871, a group of Civil War widows joins the Ladies Emigration Society, an all-single-female collective that travels to the unforgiving open prairie to claim a homestead. Half of them have intentions of homesteading without remarrying, and in short time have claimed four plots of government land and begun laboring for a large working farm. But the help of some hard-working bachelors provides enticing company that will change views on rediscovering hope and love. Reviewed by Melanie Smith.
HEARTS AWAKENING by Delia Parr (Historical Romance)
Ellie Kilmer is a spinster in her early 30s who has been working as a housekeeper for Jackson Smith, a young widower. Jackson's desperate need for a mother for his two children leads him to offer Ellie a marriage of convenience and a real home. She consents to this with the understanding that he will be her husband in name only. But once Ellie develops deeper feelings for Jackson and an attachment to his sons, the idea that he could discard her becomes a daily torment until he admits he has grown to love her. Reviewed by Melanie Smith.
Christian Living
I AM HUTTERITE: The Fascinating True Story of a Young Woman’s Journey to Reclaim Her Heritage, by Mary-Ann Kirkby (Memoir)
Growing up in a self-sustaining agricultural community, Mary-Ann Kirkby had little contact with the outside world --- until age 10 when her family left to live independently. I AM HUTTERITE is a spirited personal story of self-discovery, forgiveness, and a woman reclaiming her heritage. Reviewed by Evelyn Bence.
LIVE LONG, FINISH STRONG: The Divine Secret to Living Healthy, Happy, and Healed, by Gloria Copeland (Christian Living/Inspirational)
Gloria Copeland believes the Bible teaches that God desires for every Christian to live healthily beyond 100. In this book, she reveals that the secret to finding this "Bible-based fountain of youth" is in daily receiving by faith and obedience the life-giving Word of God and allowing it to energize and renew our bodies. Reviewed by Michele Howe.
GOD HIDES IN PLAIN SIGHT: How to See the Sacred in a Chaotic World, by Dean Nelson (Christian Living)
In this colorful, story-driven introduction to sacramental living, veteran journalist Dean Nelson offers all Christians a way to see the presence of God amid the chaos and monotony of everyday life. Each chapter emphasizes a different kind of sacramental moment, showing how it can be a lens through which we can see more of God.Reviewed by Lisa Ann Cockrel.
Marriage and Family Life
HOW DO YOU TUCK IN A SUPERHERO? And Other Delightful Mysteries of Raising Boys, by Rachel Balducci (Parenting)
When Rachel Balducci looks for material for her writing, she doesn't have to look far. Her subject matter can be found climbing through the window, hanging on to the edge of the roof, and always at the refrigerator. Here she chronicles the exuberant, awesome life of boys through conversations overheard, rules she's been forced to make, and the many episodes of boy behavior that continue to mystify mothers worldwide. Reviewed by Michele Howe.
Father's Day Roundup
For one day out of 365, we celebrate fathers. But our father’s love, encouragement and support last more than 24 hours. The relationship dynamic between a father and child, or a husband and wife, is utterly expansive and enables both to grow and develop together. While this relationship, by its very nature, is positive, our fathers or husbands have also experienced obstacles along the way. A number of the titles in this year’s Father’s Day roundup deal with such experiences and show that through faith and God, these challenges aren’t so insurmountable. Our selections provide inspiration, wisdom and humor that surely will last beyond June 20th.
The titles featured in our Father's Day Roundup include:
101 SECRETS A GOOD DAD KNOWS by Walter Browder and Sue Ellin Browder
CHAMPIONSHIP FATHERING: How to Win at Being a Dad by Carey Casey, with Neil Wilson
IMAGINARY JESUS by Matt Nikalatos
LESSONS FROM SAN QUENTIN: Everything I Needed to Know About Life I Learned in Prison by Bill Dallas, with George Barna
LIFE ON THE EDGE: The Next Generation's Guide to a Meaningful Future by Dr. James Dobson
LIVING LIFE IN THE ZONE: A 40-Day Spiritual Gameplan for Men by Kyle Rote Jr. and Dr. Joe Pettigrew
LOVE MUST BE TOUGH: New Hope for Marriages in Crisis by Dr. James Dobson
THE MAP: The Way of All Great Men by David Murrow
MASTER LEADERS: Revealing Conversations with 30 Leadership Greats by George Barna, with Bill Dallas
A POSITIVE LIFE: Living with HIV as a Pastor, Husband, and Father by Shane Stanford
QUIET STRENGTH: The Principles, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life by Tony Dungy
ROLE OF A LIFETIME: Reflections on Faith, Family, and Significant Living by James Brown
SHATTERED: Struck Down, But Not Destroyed by Frank Pastore, with Ellen Vaughn
SIX BATTLES EVERY MAN MUST WIN: ... and the Ancient Secrets You'll Need to Succeed by Bill Perkins
SIX RULES EVERY MAN MUST BREAK by Bill Perkins
UNCOMMON: Finding Your Path to Significance by Tony Dungy, with Nathan Whitaker
WHAT GOD DOES WHEN MEN LEAD: The Power and Potential of Regular Guys by Bill Peel
WHAT YOUR SON ISN'T TELLING YOU: Unlocking the Secret World of Teen Boys by Michael Ross and Susie Shellenberger (Bethany House)
WHEN GOD DOESN'T MAKE SENSE: Holding on to Your Faith During the Hardest Times by Dr. James Dobson
WHEN GOOD MEN GET ANGRY by Bill Perkins
WHY MEN HATE GOING TO CHURCH by David Murrow
Special Contest and Feature
CROSSING OCEANS Book Giveaway
We are celebrating the release of CROSSING OCEANS by Gina Holmes --- an unforgettable novel about a woman returning home to confront her past --- with a special contest. Twenty-five (25) readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of the book. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, June 29th at noon ET.
CROSSING OCEANS by Gina Holmes (Romance)
Jenny Lucas swore she’d never go home again. But being told you’re dying has a way of changing things. Years after she left, she and her five-year-old daughter, Isabella, must return to her sleepy North Carolina town to face the ghosts she left behind. They welcome her in the form of her oxygen tank–toting grandmother, her stoic and distant father, and David, Isabella’s dad…who doesn’t yet know he has a daughter. As Jenny navigates the rough and unknown waters of her new reality, the unforgettable story that unfolds is a testament to the power of love and its ability to change everything.
- Click here to read an excerpt from CROSSING OCEANS.
- Click here to see discussion questions for CROSSING OCEANS.
- Click here to read Gina Holmes’s bio.
RANSOME'S CROSSING Book Giveaway
We are celebrating the release of RANSOME’S CROSSING by Kaye Dacus --- a harrowing story of love on the open seas during the early 1800s --- with a special contest. Seventy-five (75) readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of this second installment of the Ransome Trilogy. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, June 29th at noon ET.
RANSOME'S CROSSING by Kaye Dacus (Historical Romance)
Set in the early 1800s, this captivating, romantic second book of the Ransome Trilogy from author Kaye Dacus unfolds with the grace, power, and excitement of an ocean storm. Charlotte Ransome, desperate to reach Jamaica to see her secret fiancé, disguises herself as a midshipman for a convoy led by her brother, Captain William Ransome. Meanwhile, William and his new bride, Julia, face the rough swells of the sea and of marriage as they try to adjust to life together.
- Click here to read an excerpt from RANSOME'S CROSSING.
- Click here to read Kaye Dacus’s bio.
Study Guides
THIS FINE LIFE by Eva Marie Everson (Romance)
It is the summer of 1959 and Mariette Puttnam has just graduated from boarding school. When she returns to her privileged life at home, she isn’t sure where life will take her. More schooling? A job? Marriage? Nothing feels right. How could she know that the answer is waiting for her within the narrow stairwell of her father’s apparel factory, exactly between the third and fourth floors?
- Click here to read more about THIS FINE LIFE.
- Click here to read Eva Marie Everson’s bio.
IT HAD TO BE YOU: Weddings by Bella, Book 3 by Janice A. Thompson (Romance)
Bella couldn't be happier that two of her long-feuding relatives have finally admitted their love for one another and are getting married. Their ’40s-style wedding is sure to be a night to remember. But when the Rossi house begins to fill up with family from Italy --- and an old mobster from New Jersey --- life starts to get complicated.
- Click here to read more about IT HAD TO BE YOU.
- Click here to read Janice A. Thompson’s bio.
Features
WILDFLOWER BRIDE: Montana Marriages, Book 3 by Mary Connealy (Historical Romance)
Welcome to the wilds of Montana, where humor, romance and suspense ride the range. Glowing Sun, a white woman raised by the Flathead tribe, has vague memories of her former life, including a name --- Abby Lind. When she’s forced to sever all links with her adopted family, Abby wonders if she’ll ever find a home again. Tenderhearted Wade Sawyer, responsible for Abby’s survival during the village massacre, convinces the knife-wielding woman to return with him to the Sawyer Ranch, never realizing danger lurks behind every corner. Can they survive long enough to fall in love?
- Click here to read an excerpt from WILDFLOWER BRIDE
- Click here to read Mary Connealy’s bio.
BETSY’S RETURN: Brides of Lehigh Canal, Book 2 by Wanda E. Brunstetter (Historical Romance)
Relive the glory of a Pennsylvania canal town through the eyes of those who ministered to the needs of the workers. Betsy Nelson reluctantly returns to her childhood home to care for her failing father, a faithful minister who served the town for years. William Covington, a confirmed bachelor, comes to town to become the new pastor and set aside the luxuries of this birth for service to God. Can Betsy and William find common ground on which to work together for the better of the townspeople?
- Click here to read an excerpt from BETSY’S RETURN.
- Click here to read Wanda E. Brunstetter’s bio.
About the Books
SING: A Novel of Colorado - The Homeward Trilogy, Book 2 by Lisa T. Bergren (Historical Romance)
It’s 1886 and the St. Clairs are living out their dreams in three very separate parts of the world --- Paris, Brazil and Colorado. And while each has found a measure of success and joy, each are haunted by past sins and secrets. As they face the biggest challenges of their lives --- including facing off with an old enemy --- each must discover the power of homecoming, and what it means to sing praises to God, even in the midst of loss.
- Click here to read Lisa T. Bergren’s bio.
HEADING HOME: Indian Island Trilogy, Book 3 by Renee Riva (Romance)
When A.J. returns home to Indian Island, her dog Sailor, and childhood friend Danny, she surprises everyone with her plans…but Danny has something else in mind. For eight years, A.J. Degulio has been itching to get back to her beloved Indian Island. It’s home. But a lot has changed: Sailor moves slower, Danny has grown into a man…and A.J. has a promise to keep…but it doesn’t include Danny. When Danny discovers the truth, he’s shocked and hurt. But he won’t stand in the way of what she really wants.
- Click here to read Renee Riva’s bio.
Awards
The 2010 Christian Book Award Winners
On May 3rd, the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association announced the winners of the 2010 Christian Book Awards at a banquet held during the annual Executive Leadership Summit in Nashville, TN. The five winners, including the Christian Book of the Year, were selected for their editorial excellence, as well as category-specific criteria, by 72 judges from a total of 226 entries.
The 2010 Christy Award Nominees
On April 29th, 2010, the Christy Advisory Board announced the nominees for this year’s Christy Awards, which honor the best of Christian Fiction published the previous year. The winners will be honored at a ceremony to be held on June 26, 2010 in St. Louis, MO during which two-time Christy Award winner and seven-time nominee Lisa Samson will deliver the keynote address.
Click here to read the full newsletter.
Faithful Fiction
BROKEN by Travis Thrasher (Suspense)
Laila Torres steps away from the man she just shot, wipes the blood off her hands, and walks away in hopes of starting a new life --- one without violence, abuse, and men wanting only her body and never her heart. The love, family and faith that filled her childhood are long gone. She saw to that with the choices she made, each one worse than the last, ending with this bloody nightmare. But Laila doesn’t know that the nightmare is just beginning. Reviewed by Susan Miura.
SIXTEEN BRIDES by Stephanie Grace Whitson (Fiction)
In 1871, a group of Civil War widows joins the Ladies Emigration Society, an all-single-female collective that travels to the unforgiving open prairie to claim a homestead. Half of them have intentions of homesteading without remarrying, and in short time have claimed four plots of government land and begun laboring for a large working farm. But the help of some hard-working bachelors provides enticing company that will change views on rediscovering hope and love. Reviewed by Melanie Smith.
HEARTS AWAKENING by Delia Parr (Historical Romance)
Ellie Kilmer is a spinster in her early 30s who has been working as a housekeeper for Jackson Smith, a young widower. Jackson's desperate need for a mother for his two children leads him to offer Ellie a marriage of convenience and a real home. She consents to this with the understanding that he will be her husband in name only. But once Ellie develops deeper feelings for Jackson and an attachment to his sons, the idea that he could discard her becomes a daily torment until he admits he has grown to love her. Reviewed by Melanie Smith.
Christian Living
I AM HUTTERITE: The Fascinating True Story of a Young Woman’s Journey to Reclaim Her Heritage, by Mary-Ann Kirkby (Memoir)
Growing up in a self-sustaining agricultural community, Mary-Ann Kirkby had little contact with the outside world --- until age 10 when her family left to live independently. I AM HUTTERITE is a spirited personal story of self-discovery, forgiveness, and a woman reclaiming her heritage. Reviewed by Evelyn Bence.
LIVE LONG, FINISH STRONG: The Divine Secret to Living Healthy, Happy, and Healed, by Gloria Copeland (Christian Living/Inspirational)
Gloria Copeland believes the Bible teaches that God desires for every Christian to live healthily beyond 100. In this book, she reveals that the secret to finding this "Bible-based fountain of youth" is in daily receiving by faith and obedience the life-giving Word of God and allowing it to energize and renew our bodies. Reviewed by Michele Howe.
GOD HIDES IN PLAIN SIGHT: How to See the Sacred in a Chaotic World, by Dean Nelson (Christian Living)
In this colorful, story-driven introduction to sacramental living, veteran journalist Dean Nelson offers all Christians a way to see the presence of God amid the chaos and monotony of everyday life. Each chapter emphasizes a different kind of sacramental moment, showing how it can be a lens through which we can see more of God.Reviewed by Lisa Ann Cockrel.
Marriage and Family Life
HOW DO YOU TUCK IN A SUPERHERO? And Other Delightful Mysteries of Raising Boys, by Rachel Balducci (Parenting)
When Rachel Balducci looks for material for her writing, she doesn't have to look far. Her subject matter can be found climbing through the window, hanging on to the edge of the roof, and always at the refrigerator. Here she chronicles the exuberant, awesome life of boys through conversations overheard, rules she's been forced to make, and the many episodes of boy behavior that continue to mystify mothers worldwide. Reviewed by Michele Howe.
Father's Day Roundup
For one day out of 365, we celebrate fathers. But our father’s love, encouragement and support last more than 24 hours. The relationship dynamic between a father and child, or a husband and wife, is utterly expansive and enables both to grow and develop together. While this relationship, by its very nature, is positive, our fathers or husbands have also experienced obstacles along the way. A number of the titles in this year’s Father’s Day roundup deal with such experiences and show that through faith and God, these challenges aren’t so insurmountable. Our selections provide inspiration, wisdom and humor that surely will last beyond June 20th.
The titles featured in our Father's Day Roundup include:
101 SECRETS A GOOD DAD KNOWS by Walter Browder and Sue Ellin Browder
CHAMPIONSHIP FATHERING: How to Win at Being a Dad by Carey Casey, with Neil Wilson
IMAGINARY JESUS by Matt Nikalatos
LESSONS FROM SAN QUENTIN: Everything I Needed to Know About Life I Learned in Prison by Bill Dallas, with George Barna
LIFE ON THE EDGE: The Next Generation's Guide to a Meaningful Future by Dr. James Dobson
LIVING LIFE IN THE ZONE: A 40-Day Spiritual Gameplan for Men by Kyle Rote Jr. and Dr. Joe Pettigrew
LOVE MUST BE TOUGH: New Hope for Marriages in Crisis by Dr. James Dobson
THE MAP: The Way of All Great Men by David Murrow
MASTER LEADERS: Revealing Conversations with 30 Leadership Greats by George Barna, with Bill Dallas
A POSITIVE LIFE: Living with HIV as a Pastor, Husband, and Father by Shane Stanford
QUIET STRENGTH: The Principles, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life by Tony Dungy
ROLE OF A LIFETIME: Reflections on Faith, Family, and Significant Living by James Brown
SHATTERED: Struck Down, But Not Destroyed by Frank Pastore, with Ellen Vaughn
SIX BATTLES EVERY MAN MUST WIN: ... and the Ancient Secrets You'll Need to Succeed by Bill Perkins
SIX RULES EVERY MAN MUST BREAK by Bill Perkins
UNCOMMON: Finding Your Path to Significance by Tony Dungy, with Nathan Whitaker
WHAT GOD DOES WHEN MEN LEAD: The Power and Potential of Regular Guys by Bill Peel
WHAT YOUR SON ISN'T TELLING YOU: Unlocking the Secret World of Teen Boys by Michael Ross and Susie Shellenberger (Bethany House)
WHEN GOD DOESN'T MAKE SENSE: Holding on to Your Faith During the Hardest Times by Dr. James Dobson
WHEN GOOD MEN GET ANGRY by Bill Perkins
WHY MEN HATE GOING TO CHURCH by David Murrow
Special Contest and Feature
CROSSING OCEANS Book Giveaway
We are celebrating the release of CROSSING OCEANS by Gina Holmes --- an unforgettable novel about a woman returning home to confront her past --- with a special contest. Twenty-five (25) readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of the book. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, June 29th at noon ET.
CROSSING OCEANS by Gina Holmes (Romance)
Jenny Lucas swore she’d never go home again. But being told you’re dying has a way of changing things. Years after she left, she and her five-year-old daughter, Isabella, must return to her sleepy North Carolina town to face the ghosts she left behind. They welcome her in the form of her oxygen tank–toting grandmother, her stoic and distant father, and David, Isabella’s dad…who doesn’t yet know he has a daughter. As Jenny navigates the rough and unknown waters of her new reality, the unforgettable story that unfolds is a testament to the power of love and its ability to change everything.
- Click here to read an excerpt from CROSSING OCEANS.
- Click here to see discussion questions for CROSSING OCEANS.
- Click here to read Gina Holmes’s bio.
RANSOME'S CROSSING Book Giveaway
We are celebrating the release of RANSOME’S CROSSING by Kaye Dacus --- a harrowing story of love on the open seas during the early 1800s --- with a special contest. Seventy-five (75) readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of this second installment of the Ransome Trilogy. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, June 29th at noon ET.
RANSOME'S CROSSING by Kaye Dacus (Historical Romance)
Set in the early 1800s, this captivating, romantic second book of the Ransome Trilogy from author Kaye Dacus unfolds with the grace, power, and excitement of an ocean storm. Charlotte Ransome, desperate to reach Jamaica to see her secret fiancé, disguises herself as a midshipman for a convoy led by her brother, Captain William Ransome. Meanwhile, William and his new bride, Julia, face the rough swells of the sea and of marriage as they try to adjust to life together.
- Click here to read an excerpt from RANSOME'S CROSSING.
- Click here to read Kaye Dacus’s bio.
Study Guides
THIS FINE LIFE by Eva Marie Everson (Romance)
It is the summer of 1959 and Mariette Puttnam has just graduated from boarding school. When she returns to her privileged life at home, she isn’t sure where life will take her. More schooling? A job? Marriage? Nothing feels right. How could she know that the answer is waiting for her within the narrow stairwell of her father’s apparel factory, exactly between the third and fourth floors?
- Click here to read more about THIS FINE LIFE.
- Click here to read Eva Marie Everson’s bio.
IT HAD TO BE YOU: Weddings by Bella, Book 3 by Janice A. Thompson (Romance)
Bella couldn't be happier that two of her long-feuding relatives have finally admitted their love for one another and are getting married. Their ’40s-style wedding is sure to be a night to remember. But when the Rossi house begins to fill up with family from Italy --- and an old mobster from New Jersey --- life starts to get complicated.
- Click here to read more about IT HAD TO BE YOU.
- Click here to read Janice A. Thompson’s bio.
Features
WILDFLOWER BRIDE: Montana Marriages, Book 3 by Mary Connealy (Historical Romance)
Welcome to the wilds of Montana, where humor, romance and suspense ride the range. Glowing Sun, a white woman raised by the Flathead tribe, has vague memories of her former life, including a name --- Abby Lind. When she’s forced to sever all links with her adopted family, Abby wonders if she’ll ever find a home again. Tenderhearted Wade Sawyer, responsible for Abby’s survival during the village massacre, convinces the knife-wielding woman to return with him to the Sawyer Ranch, never realizing danger lurks behind every corner. Can they survive long enough to fall in love?
- Click here to read an excerpt from WILDFLOWER BRIDE
- Click here to read Mary Connealy’s bio.
BETSY’S RETURN: Brides of Lehigh Canal, Book 2 by Wanda E. Brunstetter (Historical Romance)
Relive the glory of a Pennsylvania canal town through the eyes of those who ministered to the needs of the workers. Betsy Nelson reluctantly returns to her childhood home to care for her failing father, a faithful minister who served the town for years. William Covington, a confirmed bachelor, comes to town to become the new pastor and set aside the luxuries of this birth for service to God. Can Betsy and William find common ground on which to work together for the better of the townspeople?
- Click here to read an excerpt from BETSY’S RETURN.
- Click here to read Wanda E. Brunstetter’s bio.
About the Books
SING: A Novel of Colorado - The Homeward Trilogy, Book 2 by Lisa T. Bergren (Historical Romance)
It’s 1886 and the St. Clairs are living out their dreams in three very separate parts of the world --- Paris, Brazil and Colorado. And while each has found a measure of success and joy, each are haunted by past sins and secrets. As they face the biggest challenges of their lives --- including facing off with an old enemy --- each must discover the power of homecoming, and what it means to sing praises to God, even in the midst of loss.
- Click here to read Lisa T. Bergren’s bio.
HEADING HOME: Indian Island Trilogy, Book 3 by Renee Riva (Romance)
When A.J. returns home to Indian Island, her dog Sailor, and childhood friend Danny, she surprises everyone with her plans…but Danny has something else in mind. For eight years, A.J. Degulio has been itching to get back to her beloved Indian Island. It’s home. But a lot has changed: Sailor moves slower, Danny has grown into a man…and A.J. has a promise to keep…but it doesn’t include Danny. When Danny discovers the truth, he’s shocked and hurt. But he won’t stand in the way of what she really wants.
- Click here to read Renee Riva’s bio.
Awards
The 2010 Christian Book Award Winners
On May 3rd, the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association announced the winners of the 2010 Christian Book Awards at a banquet held during the annual Executive Leadership Summit in Nashville, TN. The five winners, including the Christian Book of the Year, were selected for their editorial excellence, as well as category-specific criteria, by 72 judges from a total of 226 entries.
The 2010 Christy Award Nominees
On April 29th, 2010, the Christy Advisory Board announced the nominees for this year’s Christy Awards, which honor the best of Christian Fiction published the previous year. The winners will be honored at a ceremony to be held on June 26, 2010 in St. Louis, MO during which two-time Christy Award winner and seven-time nominee Lisa Samson will deliver the keynote address.
Click here to read the full newsletter.
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